2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Sutton United

Player Decisions

Retain

Alex Kirk, Liam Vincent, Chris Haigh, Edon Pruti, David Ogbonna, Charlie Bell, Besart Topalloj, Dubem Eze, Jermaine Francis, Kwaku Donkor, Hayden Müller, Jack Sims, Toby Byron, Jake Taylor, Junior Eccleston, Brandon Njoku, David Ogbonna

Release

Siju Odelusi, Lewis Simper, Davide Rodari, Dillon De Silva, Eduino Vaz, Jayden Harris, David Aziaya, Nana Boateng, Jack Wadham, Ashley Nadesan,

Sell

Jaiden White, Will Tizzard, Kane Crichlow

Loan Out

Ronny Ruiz, James Fennelow, Dan Urpens, Adam Reeves

Loan End

Danny Cashman

Retained Squad

New Signings

Zico Asare (Harrogate Town – free)

When I watched Sutton United this term, one player that particularly stood out by way of his searing pace and athleticism was Kwaku Donkor. I do, however, think that United could do with adding another right-back to their squad. One player that I would look at given that he is out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 campaign is Harrogate Town’s Zico Asare.

While Donkor has been a fixture of United’s starting eleven since Chris Agutter came into the club, one of the benefits – I feel – that you get in signing a player such as Asare is beneficial two-fold. Personally, I think that there is a real opportunity for Donkor to be used in a more attacking capacity – perhaps as a winger – such that he can make use of his attributes in a more effective manner. His best attributes are his speed, agility and power, and I believe that he would be better long-term to be used as a winger. The addition of another right-back in Zico Asare provides them with this opportunity.

In terms of his profile, Asare has got all the attributes that you typically look for in a modern-day full-back. A brilliant engine to get up and down. Powerful. Quick. Aggressive in his running, and shows a real willingness to break the lines and provide an option on the overlap for the side in progressing the ball from deep. He is far more polished – I feel – in his defending than Donkor. He isn’t the biggest full-back, but he uses his body well. 

Asare has been in the National League before and excelled with Maidenhead United to the tune of an England C call-up, and I think that he would be a real asset for a club at the level if they were able to get him. He is still only 25 years of age and originates from London, and so I believe that this signing is certainly realistic for Chris Agutter to be able to bring to fruition. In my opinion, Asare is a top-end, National League right-back and that is the level to which Sutton United are aspiring under Agutter, so I think it makes a lot of sense.

Ben Tompkins (Chelmsford City – free)

While Chris Agutter’s side showed glimpses of being a strong attacking side during 2025-26, there was equally evidence of defensive shortcomings whereby their risk in the build-up and a slight naivety in their defending was – on a number of occasions – highlighted. I think they could do with adding a no-nonsense, aggressive defender that may well compromise on technical quality in terms of ball-progression, yet is going to be a strong box defender. 

He has gone a little bit under the radar during 2025-26 by way of the fact that his team have flattered to deceive at times is Ben Tompkins. Finishing the campaign with Chelmsford City in the National League South, Tompkins is one of the best centre-backs that I have seen at the level in my opinion. The defender is still very much in the infancy of his career at 21 years of age, but in terms of the skillsets that I would typically look for in a centre-back then I think he’s got a sufficient number of ticks in the box. 

Chris Agutter has demonstrated a willingness to sign players from lower in the pyramid, and so I think that going into the National League South to sign a 21-year-old that I believe has got quite a lot of development left in his game yet showing steady season-on-season progression could represent quite a nice project for Agutter to work with. He is not the finished article by any means and I feel there has definitely been improvement in his game, but I think the direction of travel for Tompkins is particularly good. 

He is a good size, physically strong, aggressive in his defending, and does the basics well putting his body on the line. Good aerially, incredibly diligent in the way that he defends and wanting to engage the opposition. 

Signed by Chelmsford City under Angelo Harrop to provide them with an out-and-out strong box defender, Tompkins would provide a much-needed guile and physicality to the backline. They have already got a player in Edon Pruti who is perhaps overly physical and a little rash at times, but I think that Tompkins harnesses that aggression in the right way and has got a good temperament as a defender. A great attitude. Good professional. Eager to learn. He is someone that I think is a bit of a ‘no thrills’ player and I mean that as a complement. United have had a lot of frailties this season defensively, yet Tompkins is someone who I believe is a better ‘defender’ than they’ve got currently. 

Importantly, if Sutton United are to be competitive next season then they have got to stop conceding so many goals; as easy as that sounds. They are too easy to play against. They have had too many instances where they have conceded one and then conceded another very soon after. Chris Agutter’s sides are always going to be good with the ball, but they need defenders that defend properly. I think Ben Tompkins is a really good player, and I have always been impressed by him when he has been at The Clarets and indeed prior to that with Hemel Hempstead. I would have no problem in chucking him into this United side in the National League, and so I feel United should go for him.

Tom Mehew (Chippenham Town – free)

While Chippenham Town have been promoted out of the National League South, one player who has stood out in 2025-26 – and indeed throughout his time with The Bluebirds is Tom Mehew. He may be a fairly new name for watchers of the National League, but I think that he could be a good option to consider. 

I expect that Chris Agutter will look to go down the route of signing largely players who are young, potentially at a lower level, and that they can develop longer-term, albeit players who are capable of making the step up. One of the failings that Sutton United have had in the last 12-18 months – I feel – is that they have signed a lot of players out of the lower leagues, yet perhaps are too early in their development. In my opinion, Mehew is one that has played a lot of minutes in first-team football and developed nicely, and this summer may be the right time to go and make that step up. 

One of the main reasons as to why I think that Sutton United should sign Tom Mehew is due to the fit that he provides and his skillsets. Chris Agutter’s biggest challenge this summer is going to be in replacing Kai Jennings and Lewis Simper after he opted not to extend his contract, and so signing someone that can step into the roles that they have played under Agutter is going to be key in maintaining continuity in system and approach. 

In Mehew, they would be getting an elegant, technical, ball-carrier that ranks as being one of the best progressive runners in the league. In terms of his ability to pick the ball up from deep and cover ground with his long-legged, rangy, running style, there are not many better players outside of the National League for that. He arrives from deep and gets into the box with clever movement. 

It would be a slight gamble given that he has been playing in the National League South, but I think that it is one worth taking. He has honed his craft over the last few years with Chippenham Town and while he perhaps doesn’t get the plaudits for his displays given that he perhaps doesn’t score as freely as others I feel that he is a really impressive customer who – with the right coaching, and a bit of physical development – could be a clever option for Sutton United to sign.

Cameron Hargreaves (Aldershot Town – free)

There is no denying that Chris Agutter has got to do some work in midfield, but in particular I feel that one profile they miss is that energy and dynamism. A powerful presence that is full of running. Jake Taylor is more effective sitting in a double pivot, with Hayden Muller naturally a centre-back and so is defensive when he plays there. Charlie Bell is an attacking midfielder and perhaps struggles with the intensity and physicality of the division without the ball. As such, I would be looking to add an industrious, box-to-box #8. 

One player that would be top of my list if I were Chris Agutter having been released by fellow National League side Aldershot Town is Cameron Hargreaves. 

In terms of a midfield profile, I think that Hargreaves provides Sutton United with the attributes that they are missing. He is powerful. Incredibly physical. A superb athlete with high-intensity running and a bit of a ‘Duracell Bunny’ with his stamina and dynamism. He is combative against the ball. He has the frame and the power in his carries to eat up ground fairly well and progress the ball from deep. He is a tough tackler, and has real tenacity in trying to win the ball back. He is a good size. Well-built. An incredible professionalism. Strong with and without the ball as a box-to-box type. 

In the 4-2-3-1 formation that Sutton United employ, I feel that he would be the perfect partner for Jake Taylor in that double pivot. Using his power and physicality in breaking up play behind the ball, and then having the license to carry the ball from deep in turnovers. Chris Agutter’s side have definitely missed that physical profile given that they have favoured largely technicians that can get on the ball and create, and so Hargreaves complements what they have currently got in the group. 

One of the other things that Hargreaves crucially provides the team is leadership and character. I don’t feel there have been enough leaders on the pitch for United in terms of that ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck, organise, lead by example, and communicate with each other. Hargreaves is a good talker, a hugely demanding team mate and someone that will drive standards into the group. 

He will not be short of offers after leaving Aldershot Town, as in my opinion he has quietly developed a reputation for being one of the best midfielders – as a complete all-round package – in the National League. He would transform Sutton United’s midfield in my opinion, and so if they could get him then I think that he would be a superb addition.

Danny Cashman (Crawley Town – free)

One player who finishes the season with Sutton United on loan and who I imagine that Chris Agutter will be looking to try and sign permanently in the summer is Danny Cashman. Currently on the books of League Two Crawley Town, Cashman may well be one that is allowed to leave at the end of 2025-26 and I don’t expect Sutton United to be too far away from securing his signature. 

One of the benefits that United have is that Chris Agutter has managed Danny Cashman at a previous club, and so there is a familiarity there already which enabled them to sign Cashman, and may well be leveraged to help them do so again in the off season. 

In terms of his profile, Cashman is a skilful and intricate #10. He picks up clever positions between the lines to get on the half turn. Wonderfully technical. A delicate weight of pass. Good vision to pick a pass in the final third. Always looking to take risks, play forward and play through the lines. He is the type of player that can drift through a game yet can produce that bit of magic out of nowhere. They have lost Kai Jennings, and will likely lose Lewis Simper during the summer as well. Signing a player of that advanced midfield profile that can score and create goals is key. 

Cashman played his best football under Agutter at Worthing, and so I think that after a spell out through injury and having lost his way slightly, re-uniting with his former boss and getting back to playing regularly will do him the world of good. Get him playing with a smile on his face. At a level which I feel he can be a real success at. Take up the role as the main attacking architect in this Sutton United side. He is a hugely talented player and if they can get him playing in the right position and get the support around then I think that he has got the ability to be a match-winner.

Given that he has had time out through injury, his future at Crawley Town is perhaps up in the air as he hasn’t had all that many opportunities to prove himself and so they may want to give him another year to showcase what he can do. However, if I was advising him then I would say to drop down into the National League, have a full season playing regularly, If he does that, I feel he gets his career back up and running. 

Josh Popoola (Maidenhead United – free)

One player that I would look at if I were Chris Agutter is Josh Popoola. Currently on the books of Maidenhead United, I think he is one player that has impressed in the National League South last season and is capable of making the step up into the fifth tier.

Personally, I feel that signing for a Sutton United side that set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation is a better stylistic fit in terms of platforming his attributes than the system that he has been played in with The Magpies. Ryan Peters changed to a back three, but I don’t think that maximises his strengths. He is too central too often – I feel – and so gets congested, and the quality of his speed and trickery with the ball is mitigated.

As a player, Popoola is a diminutive, direct, tricky wide player with blistering pace, the low centre of gravity to change direction, and has nimble footwork. One thing that I think is pretty unique in Popoola is that he is strong off either foot, allowing him to be strong in manipulating the ball in tight areas and affords him the unpredictability that makes him very difficult to defend against.

He can go on the outside and hit the byline in stretching teams with his speed, or work the ball onto his left and drive in-field. When you play him as a winger, he has got the qualities as a mazy dribbler to isolate players and attack space really well. If I was a manager, I would be getting him play on the last line and using his physical attributes and trickery rather than getting drawn into a congested central area.

There was an expectation that Popoola would depart Maidenhead United earlier in the campaign given the interest in him from elsewhere and that didn’t materialise, yet I think he will look for opportunities to move on this summer. If that is the case, I feel that he will make a step up in leaving York Road to go and test himself in the National League, and so Sutton United could well be a good environment.

The youngster is only 23 years of age, and so definitely falls into that category of being a ‘project’. I can appreciate there could be some apprehension from United fans given their focus on signing the ‘young, hungry and stepping up’ profile hasn’t been as successful as they would have hoped for. However, Chris Agutter is a good coach and I think he is worth a look at.

Terrell Works (Fulham – free)

One area in which I think Sutton United could strengthen in the summer is in the wide attacking areas. While he ended the campaign on loan at Yeovil Town, one player that Agutter could look to sign and who I feel – with the luxury of time to develop, and good, targeted coaching – could be a good player for the level is Fulham’s Terrell Works. 

When I have watched Sutton United this season, quite a lot of their success has been hitting teams on the counterattack with the speed and athleticism of their wide players. Quite quickly, Chris Agutter has developed a real identity with this Sutton United side that relies on being strong in transition with direct running. As such, signing a player of Works’ profile – a quick-footed, agile, speedy winger – represents a good stylistic fit for the way that Agutter wants his side to play. 

During his time at Yeovil Town, Works has played predominantly as either one of a strike pairing through the middle or as a wide #10 in a 3-4-2-1. I feel that the intention of that was to provide a player that does that have off-the-cuff, unpredictable, energetic running such as Works with the defensive structure behind him to go and ‘do his thing’. I do, however, feel that he is most effective playing off the left-hand side in a 4-2-3-1 whereby he can use his close control and trickery in evading his opposition full-back, isolating them and attacking space with his trademark drop of the shoulder onto his stronger right to get a shot off. 

When I analyse a potential signing, I always look at how they may fit the overall picture of a squad and I think Works dovetails really nicely with Besart Topalloj. Works’ natural movement is to cut inside and work the ball to goal, whereas certainly when I have seen Topalloj at his best (during his time at Bromley) he was the type to get up on the overlap on the outside with his lung-busting runs from deep. As such, I feel that there is a nice rotation there for United which can fashion a lot of 2v1 situations in the wide areas to work crossing opportunities and in feeding the ball into the space between full-back and centre-back. 

There is definitely a lot of development that needs to be done with Works’ game. Improving that final action and his decision-making. Making better use of his attributes and platforming them correctly. Developing his personality and making him play with that added aggression and ‘grit’ in his game. Technically and physically, I feel that there is definitely a player in there and it just needs the right environment in which to go and demonstrate that.

John Akinde (Braintree Town – free)

Chris Agutter has quickly instilled an attacking, front-footed brand of football in charge of Sutton United, and there is a lot of emphasis on speed, rotations and dynamic movement in the final third. However, I feel that there is definitely the scope for them to bring in more of an out-and-out #9 that can provide them with more of an aerial reference to play off. 

One option that I would look at signing and who I have maintained is one of the best #9’s at the level is John Akinde. The forward finished the campaign on the books of fellow National League side Braintree Town, albeit with The Iron having been relegated out of the division and themselves not being the strongest financially then you’d imagine that he may well be looking to move on. 

It is very much off-brand for United to go and sign a player of John Akine as someone of his profile is the antithesis to the fluency and transitional qualities on which Sutton United’s attacking play has been built. However, they notably lacked experience and game intelligence in 2025-26 – with some particularly poor displays and an inability to manage the game under pressure – but signing John Akinde would definitely do that. 

He remains arguably the best target man in the division. Industrious. Hard-working. A good athlete. Strong in the air. Positions his body well between the ball and the covering player. Clever use of his frame in shielding the ball. Good back-to-goal. A strong awareness of how the play is developing around him, and intelligent at bringing others into the game. He may not be the quickest, but the first few yards are in his head and he is still one of the most astute operators in the league. 

He is now 35 years of age, and so if United were to sign him then it would likely be a 1-year-deal for the evergreen forward. It goes against all of the principles that Chris Agutter has tried to instill, but I think that it could elevate their ability to be competitive. He’s an ‘old-fashioned’ #9, the intelligent operator that will provide them with more of a platform to build off in the final third, strong at drawing fouls and in shielding the ball by way of his physicality and large frame. 

At his age, he may not be signed to be a guaranteed starter, but I still feel that he provides value for the team; especially away from home. He has only scored five goals during 2025-26 for The Iron in the league, albeit with the obvious caveat that it is in a side who don’t create much in the way of clear-cut chances. However, he is incredibly hard-working, offers a lot more to the team than just goals, and I feel that if Sutton United can get him then they would be getting a real coup.